Umbrella runner assembly

ABSTRACT

An umbrella runner assembly has a runner and multiple connectors. The runner has a tubular body with a top and a bottom, a top flange and multiple through holes. The top flange has an outer periphery and is formed on the top of the tubular body. The through holes are defined through the top flange and arranged in a circle. The connectors are connected to the tubular body of the runner. Each connector has a main body and a resilient strap connected to the main body and having a bottom provided with a hook engaging with one of the through holes in the top flange of the runner. With such an arrangement, the umbrella runner assembly is easily and conveniently assembled.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a runner assembly, and moreparticularly to an umbrella runner assembly that is slidably mountedaround an umbrella shaft.

2. Description of Related Art

With reference to FIG. 4, a conventional umbrella runner in accordancewith the prior art comprises a body (50) and a series of slots (51). Thebody (50) is cylindrical, has a top and a bottom and is slidably mountedaround an umbrella shaft The slots (51) are defined radially in an outerperiphery of the body (50) and near the top of the body (50). An annulargroove (52) is defined in the outer periphery of the body (50) andcommunicates with the slots (51). Each slot (51) is adapted to receive aconnector (60) connected to a rib of the umbrella. A bore (61) isdefined in each connector (60) and communicates with the annular groove(52) after the connector (60) is inserted into the slot (51). A steelwire (62) extends through the bore (61) and is mounted in the annulargroove (52). Two opposite ends of the steel wire (62) are twistedtogether to prevent the connectors (60) from detaching from the body(50).

However, inserting the steel wire (62) through the bores (61) of theconnectors (60) and mounting it in the annular groove (52) is adifficult and time-consuming chore. Furthermore, ends of the knot of thesteel wire (62) are sharp and easily injure workers' or users' fingers.

To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention tends to provide anumbrella runner assembly to mitigate or obviate the aforementionedproblems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the present invention is to provide an umbrellarunner assembly that is easily and conveniently assembled.

To achieve the objective, the umbrella runner assembly in accordancewith the present invention has a runner and multiple connectors. Therunner has a tubular body with a top and a bottom, a top flange andmultiple through holes. The top flange has an outer periphery and isformed on the top. The through holes are defined through the top flangeand arranged in a circle. The connectors are connected to the tubularbody of the runner. Each connector has a main body and a resilient strapconnected to the main body and having a bottom provided with a hookengaging with one of the through holes in the top flange of the runner.

Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent after a careful reading of the detailed description withappropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a frame of an umbrella with an umbrellarunner assembly in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the umbrella runner assemblyin FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional side plan view of the umbrellarunner assembly in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a side plan view of a conventional umbrella runner inaccordance with the prior art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, an umbrella runner assembly inaccordance with the present invention comprises a runner (10) andmultiple connectors (20). The runner (10) has a tubular body (11) and isslidably mounted around an umbrella shaft (30). The body (11) has a top,a bottom and a top flange (12) with an outer periphery formed on the topof the body (11). Multiple through holes (14) are defined through thetop flange (12) and are arranged in a circle. In addition, multiplenotches (16) are defined around the outer periphery of the top flange(12) and correspond to the through holes (14).

The connectors (20) are connected to the body (11) of the runner (10),are further pivotally connected to a hub (32) on the shaft (30) andsecurely attached to ribs (34) of the umbrella. Each connector (20) hasa main body (22) and a resilient strap (24) connected to the main body(22). The strap (24) has a bottom end provided with a hook (242)engaging with one of the through holes (14) in the top flange (12) ofthe runner (10). With the arrangement of the notches (16) in the topflange (12), parts of the straps (24) are received inside the notches(16) to position the hooks (242) near the through holes (12) so that theengagements between the through holes (14) and hooks (242) are verypositive.

In such an arrangement, to assemble the runner (10) with the connectors(20) is easy and convenient by means of engaging the hooks (242) withthe through holes (14) in the top flange (12), and a steel wire isunnecessary. Workers' or users' fingers are never injured whenassembling or using the umbrella. In addition, because the top flange(12) is integrally formed on the body (11), to manufacture the runner iseasy.

Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the presentinvention have been set forth in the foregoing description, togetherwith details of the structure and function of the invention, thedisclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail,especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts withinthe principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by thebroad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims areexpressed.

1. An umbrella runner assembly comprising: a runner having a tubularbody with a top and a bottom; a top flange with an outer peripheryformed on the top of the tubular body; and multiple through holesdefined through the top flange and arranged in a circle; and multipleconnectors connected to the tubular body of the runner and each having amain body; and a resilient strap connected to the main body and having abottom provided with a hook engaging with a respective one of thethrough holes in the top flange of the runner.
 2. The runner assembly asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the runner further has multiple notchesdefined around the outer periphery of the top flange and correspondingto the through holes.